High-Rise Hotels to be Relocated in Murree Beautification Effort

News Desk 

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chaired a five-hour meeting during which the Murree development plan was approved.

The meeting sanctioned various projects related to development, beautification, transport, construction, and rehabilitation, following a detailed briefing by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. Among the approved projects was the Rawalpindi to Murree Tourist glass train, for which an international consultant will be hired.

A decision was made to remove high-rise hotel buildings obstructing the natural scenery of Mall Road, with plans to relocate these hotels from GPO Chowk to a different location. Uniform appearance, signage, and color schemes for old buildings on Mall Road were mandated.

Additionally, it was decided to restore the original names of cities, areas, and historical buildings in Murree.

Amendments to building laws for construction in Murree and the transfer of approval authority to the provincial level were approved. There was also an in-principle decision to take action against officials who had allowed illegal constructions.

A comprehensive short, medium, and long-term plan for the supply of drinking water was presented, which included repairing and restoring the existing system to supply over 600,000 gallons of clean water daily in Murree. RCC and tough tiles will be installed on 53 kilometers of streets in various villages in Murree. A project to store rainwater for domestic use was also approved, with government support for over 1,100 homes in this initiative.

The construction and expansion of the old Rawalpindi-Murree-Kashmir Road were approved, along with the creation of temporary parking spaces on Old Murree Road. 

The remodeling of Jhika Gali Chowk, removal of encroachments, and construction and restoration of Lawrence College Road and Boostal Mor to Brewery Road were also sanctioned.

In Banser Gali Wildlife Park, tree houses, camping sites, walkways, and terrace parking areas will be created. The entrances to PIA and Bagh-e-Shaheedan Park will be renovated, and attractive walkways for tourists will be built.

Murree Biodiversity Park will offer natural habitats for plants, birds, and animals, along with picnic areas and tourist huts.

An artist’s corner, walkways, walking tracks, and eco-tourism promotion were also planned.

It was reported that the construction and repair of 16 internal roads in Murree have been completed. Briefings were also given on the upgradation of Samli Hospital, street lights, and public toilets.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed immediate legislation to restore old names and install memorials in every city in accordance with their history and traditions. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif emphasized that the poor should not be troubled and that the government would set up stalls itself.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated that Murree has improved significantly and will be made the best for the public. Various proposals for parking yards in Murree were also reviewed. Thirteen illegal constructions and encroachments were demolished in Murree.

The meeting was attended by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Ministers Sohaib Ahmad Malik, Zeeshan Rafiq, Bilal Akbar, Special Assistant Rashid Nasrullah, Usama Sarwar Raja MNA, Bilal Yamin Satti MPA, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Kamran Lashari, secretaries, commissioner, deputy commissioner, and others.